Ferrari F355: Rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside them
Rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside them is a common cooling fault on the Ferrari F355 on the 1994–1999 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the Ferrari F355.
- Vehicle
- Ferrari F355
- Years
- 1994–1999
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Cooling
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The F355 carries its radiators in the nose and both cores rot out with age, along with the oil cooler on one side and the air-conditioning heat exchanger on the other, and both cooling fans need to work or a mid-engined car in traffic gets hot fast. Radiator renewal is on the list of typical repairs every 355 sees at some point, and a car with fresh radiators and a working air-con system has had money spent where it matters.
What you would notice
- Coolant or oil staining under the nose of the car
- Temperature climbing in traffic
- Only one cooling fan running when the engine is hot
- Air-conditioning not blowing cold
- White crust on the radiator fins visible through the front grilles
How to check it
Where to look. Radiators, oil cooler and air-conditioning heat exchanger in the nose, behind the front grilles
Look under the nose of the car where it is normally parked for coolant or oil stains.
Look through the front grilles with a torch at the radiator fins for crust, damp patches or fins that have crumbled away.
After the drive, let the car idle until it is hot and listen for both cooling fans cutting in.
Run the air-conditioning on full cold and check it actually cools.
Ask whether the radiators, oil cooler or air-con exchanger have been replaced.
What it costs to put right
$2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Have the radiators, oil cooler or air-con exchanger been replaced?”
- “Do both cooling fans work, and does the air-con blow cold?”
Now check the Ferrari F355 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- Classic & Sports Car — 'Ferrari F355 buyer's guide: what to pay and what to look for'
- Collecting Cars — Ferrari F355 Buyers Guide
Ferrari F355 buyer questions
Is rotting radiator cores and the oil cooler and air-con exchanger beside them serious on a Ferrari F355?
We rate it major and common on the Ferrari F355. The F355 carries its radiators in the nose and both cores rot out with age, along with the oil cooler on one side and the air-conditioning heat exchanger on the other, and both cooling fans need to work or a mid-engined car in traffic gets hot fast. Radiator renewal is on the list of typical repairs every 355 sees at some point, and a car with fresh radiators and a working air-con system has had money spent where it matters.
How much does it cost to fix on a Ferrari F355?
$2,500 to $7,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Ferrari F355 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1994–1999 Ferrari F355. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Look under the nose of the car where it is normally parked for coolant or oil stains. Look through the front grilles with a torch at the radiator fins for crust, damp patches or fins that have crumbled away. After the drive, let the car idle until it is hot and listen for both cooling fans cutting in. Run the air-conditioning on full cold and check it actually cools. Ask whether the radiators, oil cooler or air-con exchanger have been replaced. Look here: Radiators, oil cooler and air-conditioning heat exchanger in the nose, behind the front grilles